Mets: Five way too early bold predictions for the 2021 season

Heading into this offseason, there was plenty of optimism surrounding the New York Mets. There was no shortage of bold predictions for what they might do.

With a good chunk of the offseason now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to focus on the next step of this franchise: games.

The 2021 MLB season should be fine. Hopefully, with a 162-game schedule, we get to see a lot more of the orange and blue.

One of my favorite things to write about in regards to the Mets is predictions. I’m not always right. You can tell this by the fact that I’m not actually working for the team.

Predictions can be enjoyable because when you connect on one, it’s a moonshot. Although the season is still many weeks away from beginning, it’s never too early to have some bold predictions. And with each, I’m swinging for the fences.

Mets have three players finish in the top 10 of the MVP vote

I’m falling out of my shoes with this first prediction. It’s certainly a bold prediction to make. I don’t think I was born the last time the Mets had three guys in the top 10 of the MVP vote.

There are some obvious candidates for this honor. To go even bolder with this prediction, I’m going to give you those names.

Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Jacob deGrom will all have top 10 MVP finish seasons; and in that order. I don’t think Lindor wins the award, but has a realistic chance of being in the top five. Alonso, meanwhile, will see his power numbers continue to soar and his RBI total exceed 100 yet again.

As for deGrom, his quest for a Cy Young will help out his cause as he narrowly finishes at number ten.

This isn’t the last of my MVP predictions for the Mets. I have one more.

Finally, the Mets have a Gold Glove winner

The last time the Mets had a Gold Glove winner was in 2014 when Juan Lagares captured one for the organization as a center fielder. This year, they finally get another.

Who will it be?

The most obvious candidate on the current roster is shortstop Francisco Lindor. A multi-time winner of the award during his time with the Cleveland Indians, he’s a stalwart on defense.

The Mets could also get a Gold Glove season from starting pitcher Marcus Stroman or possibly even catcher James McCann. I think this is a little too optimistic. Both should perform well defensively, but I don’t think a double-G is in their future.

Other than those three names, the Mets could shock us and add a Gold Glove-caliber player in center field to add into this mix. There are several past winners of the award available this offseason. However, with the expectation that there won’t be a DH in 2021, the club may need to proceed with Brandon Nimmo as their primary player at the position with only a part-time option on the roster for defensive reasons.

If I’m going to put any way too early prediction in ink, let’s hand out the Gold Glove to Lindor. Andrelton Simmons, his greatest competitor for the award in the American League, has a new contract with the Minnesota Twins. This leaves Lindor free to fight off the other 14 starting shortstops in the National League free of Simba.

All good things come to an end eventually. But so do bad droughts like the lack of Gold Glove winners in Mets history. In 2021, it’s finally over!

Carlos Carrasco receives Cy Young consideration with 15+ wins

Carlos Carrasco will not win the 2021 Cy Young. I think that’s a safe prediction. However, we will see him receive a little consideration for the honor.

I’m very high on Cookie—and I don’t mean the kind they sell in Denver.

Carrasco has been a guy I wanted to see the Mets go out and acquire all offseason long. It made too much sense to not take on his salary. He is consistent, stable, and brings a leadership quality the Mets could use more of.

When the 2021 season is over, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Carrasco leading the team in wins. Jacob deGrom should have a better year. In the wins column, Carrasco may reign supreme.

I am setting some high numbers for Carrasco this year. He’s going to win 15+ games in year one with the Mets. When the Cy Young voters cast their ballots, they’re going to make sure he gets the respect he deserves.

Years like the one I’m predicting for Carrasco are not rare. I always think of the dominant Detroit Tigers teams and the Washington Nationals from last decade whenever I envision what an ideal rotation looks like. They had an abundance of arms making their way onto the Cy Young ballot. The Mets could conceivably be a team to do so in 2021. Even if they only end up with deGrom and Carrasco receiving votes, we can rest assured that the year was a strong one in the standings.

Carrasco has received Cy Young consideration twice in his career. In 2017, he finished fourth.

Mets make it to at least the NLCS

The real question fans want to know is about how the team does as a whole. We’ve seen fantastic award-winning campaigns and memorable seasons from players before. A good majority of fans have yet to see this franchise win a championship.

In 2021, the Mets will be serious contenders for the Commissioner’s Trophy. They could very well win it. I’m not going to predict they will.

Instead, I’ll settle on something a little less. The Mets will win a playoff round! We will see them in the NLCS battling with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, or maybe the revamped St. Louis Cardinals with Nolan Arenado at third base.

Whoever it is they match up with, the Mets are going to earn their way into the postseason and actually pull off a victory.

The National League is top-heavy this year with a handful of teams that pose a threat. In addition to the three mentioned above, getting through the San Diego Padres could prove challenging. Only they may match up best with the Mets because of their incredible starting rotation and deadly offensive.

When it comes to winning in the playoffs, the 2015 Mets taught as a lot. They weren’t as good as the Dodgers and yet they managed to squeak by. The Chicago Cubs, a Wild Card team at the time, were handled quite easily by New York. So, even if the Mets aren’t a favorite, it’s not correct to write them off as winners.

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What are your way too early bold predictions for the 2021 season?